Dodge City times., 1887-03-31
TIE COMMISSION.

Generally Favorable Comment on tho Per
sohnel OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission-A Difficult Task in Prospect
Commissioner Morrison Eager for the
Fray-Aa Avalanche Of Correspondence
| Ready to Fall.
WASHINGTON, March pa The personnel
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission
is the chief topic of conversation here,
AID, as general thing. the composition
of the commission seems to give satisfac.
ton. The high character, competence
and srecia! fitness of the five gentlemen
for the work before them, is generally ad-
| mitted, and is considered ample COM
pcnsation for the long Golay in appointing
them, and the President is freely credited
| with having brought one o. the most diff
| fcult tasks he has yet encountered to o
very gratifying and successful conclusion.
The Csitir, in this connection, while
commenting editorialy on the composition
of the commission, doubtless reflects the
| opinion Of fair minded men Of all parties
in saying: ''The President has done wise
ly, as matter Of self-defense, in select
ing commits ssioncrs on the basis Of merit,
and thus relieving himself of RESPONSE
bility in greater degree than he eoulc
| have done by appointments based in
greater degree upon political or personal
| considerations.
| The organization Of the Commission is
! the next thing looked for. The commits
| sions OF the m cmbers were signed by the
| President yesterday, and. were ready to
be sent to them. and it ID expected they
| will meet in Washington in few days
| and organize and get ready for the delicate
| and difficult duties before them, and
which will begin on the 5th of next month,
| the date on which the Interstate Com
| merce law goes into effect.
Four Of the commissioners are at their
| homes and will require GONE time to c.ose
| rp their p resent business affairs. Colonel
| Morrison, who is in Washington, desires
| to return to his home end settle up some
personal matters. The delay on the part
of the commissioners in getting together
and organizing is not as serious as the
delay which, it is feared, Will grow out OF
| the selection OF quarters and clerks, and
the performance of vast amount OF
| correspondence before the commission
can take intelligent action on any of the
problems that are sure to be thrust upon
| it. The gravest and most fun lamcntal
questions have arisen under the new law,
and upon these it is of tie utmost import.
define its position before proceeding with
the work. Two members Of the comm;s.
sion, at least, have probably as yet given
very little attention to these questions.
The questions referred to are of the most
radical character In the first place, it is
disputed whether the law applies to ship
ments made from cne point to another
within State, or only to those from
one State to another. The con-
struction of the clause "under
like circuns tances and Conditions
the clause In reference to long and short
hauls, and other phrases used in the act
and provisions made BY it, are so various
ly construed by constitutional lawyers,
that one construction would reduce the
effects of the new law to the most unim-
portant character, while another would
lead to complete reve, sal of commercial
conditions and transportation methods,
aad affect every branch Of trade and every
interest throughout the United States.
While it is generally believed that the
commission is so constituted as TO secure
conservative rulings on these questions,
it is conceded that many POINTS OF vast
Importance are in doubt.
The bill appropriates S100,000 for all ex-
penSes Of the COMMISSION for the first
year Of it's existence, while otherexpcnses
accidental to it are to be met out of other
appropriations for the Interior Depart
ment and the courts.
The salaries of five commissioners at
81, 500 each, and Of the secretary at $3.50
and other stipulated expenses, leaves
about LOCO 10 be expended for assist
ance, clerical service, etc. This repre-
sents largo clerical and Official force, to
be appointed In such manner, at such
rates and for such dutes as the commits
SION sees fit, but subject in every case to
the approval Of the Secretary Of the In
terror. A large and important bureau will
undoubtedly be rapidly organized.
Information has been received that
thousands of communications, queries,
complaints, etc, are ready to pour in upon
the commission whenever it is ready to
receive them. A gentleman well qualified
to speak, recently told the President that
house full of such documents was ready
for mailing as soon as the commissio or
ganizei.
Mr.. Morrison says that he hopes and
expects the other commissioners viii.
reach Washington in day or two, so
they can organize and get ready for work
as soon as poss ible. lie could not, of
leagues, with certainty say what ques-
tions would first engage the attention of
the commission. The disputed law qucs
tions would probably be taken up at once,
and as an Interpretation was reached and
agreed upon in each case, it would be pub
licly announced. Mr.. Morrison spoke con-
fdently of the beneficent results that
would grow out of the enforcement of
the new law, and If the other members of
the commission, when they reach Wash |
ington, are as eager for the fray as he ap-
pears to be, it will not be many days be-
fore the commission will be hard at |
work.
Senator Edmunds in an in terview spoke |
highly of Mr.. Walker, the Vermont men, |
Der Of the commission, whom, he said, he |
knew thoroughly. Mr.. Walker, he said,
has had considerable experience as |
State legislator, in dealing with railroad |
questions. He was a man of extraordi- |
nary ability, fine scholar, man of lit |
erary attainments, vigorous, industrious |
and honest, ''all the way through" and |
a strong man in every respect. When |
questioned about the report that Mr.. |
Walker was appointed upon Sir. Ed |
recommendation, the Vermont |
Senator replied: ~ don't recommend any
body. l sometimes give testimony as to |
the fitness of people for public duties, but |
I don't recommend"
The Fate OF Il. s. Boyd.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, March 24-It is learned |
~ HA,I Il<H 81 - Al--A-